You're correct in your assumptions. There is no EN 60446 (and, indeed, no EN 602446 as I mis-typed it) only IEC 60446. My apologies.
IEC 60446 is cited by EN 60204 in the 'neutral' section 14.2.3 so I turned to it for clarification (and got none, really). It seems there is no product standard for our equipment (semiconductor manufacturing equipment). EN 60204-1 identifies itself as a type B, 'horizontal' standard. Thanks for your comments. Regards, Lauren Crane > -----Original Message----- > From: Crabb, John [SMTP:jo...@exchange.scotland.ncr.com] > Sent: Thursday, April 22, 1999 5:04 AM > To: 'Crane, Lauren'; 'discussion group' > Subject: RE: What color is neutral. > > I would tend to agree with your interpretation that " light > blue is only required WHERE A CIRCUIT INCLUDES A NEUTRAL > IDENTIFIED BY COLOR. If another acceptable means of identification > is used, such as marking, then light blue is not required." > > (I am mystified why they have chosen to specify the neutral > conductor colour > but have left the line conductor requirements as "preferred" > colours). > > You could always ask IEC TC16 for a formal "interpretation" of this > requirement. > I do not know if they have a formal process for such requests. > For IEC 60950, there is the IEC/TC 74 Chairmans Advisory Panel > which answers such requests. > > Another couple of points. > > I would imagine that the very definite requirement for protective > conductors > to be green/ellow is there because this is the most critical > conductor, and > we do not want any other (confusing) method of identification other > than > colour. > > Surely you have to concern yourself with the requirements in the > appropriate > product standard which applies to your particular product. IEC 60446 > is not a > product standard. > > Is there an EN 60446 ? It is not mentioned in the 1998/99 BSI > Catalogue. > You quote from EN 60446 ed3, but given IEC 60446 was dated February > 1999, > I would not have expected the equivalent EN to be available so > quickly. > Regards, > John Crabb, Development Excellence (Product Safety) , > NCR Financial Solutions Group Ltd., Kingsway West, Dundee, Scotland. DD2 > 3XX > E-Mail :john.cr...@scotland.ncr.com > Tel: +44 (0)1382-592289 (direct ). Fax +44 (0)1382-622243. VoicePlus > 6-341-2289. > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Crane, Lauren [SMTP:lcr...@bev.etn.com] > > Sent: 21 April 1999 16:18 > > To: 'Crabb, John'; 'discussion group' > > Subject: RE: What color is neutral. > > > > Mr. Crabb, > > > > I appreciate your spending 2c (or is that 2p!) on this issue. > > As the 'thread' initiator, I hope I can trouble you with a follow-up. > > > > As you and Mr. John Woodgate (often read in the s.e.e.c newsgroup) > > suggested, I have attempted to contact the ANSI-listed members of the US > > TC44 committee regarding this issue. I still am waiting for their > replies. > > > > > > Since you are so close to the standards development process..... > > > > Regarding 602446, I did get a copy of the recent (third) edition. Its > > terminology is substantially the same as EN 60204-1 1997. > > > > This is the point where I would be very interested in your comments. > > > > The standard reads (quoting from EN 60446 ed3 section 3.2.2) > > "Where a circuit includes a neutral or mid-point conductor identified by > > colour, the colour used for this purpose shall be blue. In order to > avoid > > confusion with other colours it is recommended to use an unsaturated > > colour > > blue, called here 'light blue'....." > > > > My thesis (that has been supported by some notified/competent bodies but > > rejected by many peers in the industry) is that, as the section says, > > light > > blue is only required WHERE A CIRCUIT INCLUDES A NEUTRAL IDENTIFIED BY > > COLOR. If another acceptable means of identification is used, such as > > marking, then light blue is not required. > > > > This language in this section on neutrals is substantially different > from > > other sections, such as the protective conductor (3.3.2) which allows no > > discretion on identifying the conductor. That is to say "The bi-colour > > combination green-and-yellow shall be used for identifying the > protective > > conductor....." > > > > This is much more exact than what is said for the neutral. > > > > Am I missing something here??? > > > > Thanks for any comments. > > > > PS - the equipment we make is hard wired into the customers facility > > (rather > > than plug & cord connected) so it frequently comes under the scrutiny of > > electrical inspectors. > > > > Lauren Crane > > Eaton Corporation > > lcr...@bev.etn.com > > --------- This message is coming from the emc-pstc discussion list. To cancel your subscription, send mail to majord...@ieee.org with the single line: "unsubscribe emc-pstc" (without the quotes). For help, send mail to ed.pr...@cubic.com, j...@gwmail.monarch.com, ri...@sdd.hp.com, or roger.volgst...@compaq.com (the list administrators).
